Not much difference Albert Roca and Carles Cuadrat, says Sunil Chhetri

03/18/2019

Sunil Chhetri has stated that there haven’t been much difference between ISL winning coach Carles Cuadrat and his predecessor Albert Roca, who also took the side to the final last season. Bengaluru FC lifted the ISL trophy by beating FC Goa narrowly in the extra time, courtesy of Rahul Bheke’s goal.

Sunday night was a déjà vu for the BFC players and fans. Last season too, they were at the same stage against opponents Chennaiyin City FC and in their backyard, where they had succumbed to a 3-2 defeat losing their maiden ISL title by a whisker. BFC needed to shake up things for the new season and with Roca was replaced by his then assistant coach Cuadrat.

BFC’s style of play hasn’t changed much since then as Chhetri pointed out that both the managers have a similar style of play although this team has more “progressive”.

"The characters are the same. There is not much of a difference in the style between Albert (Roca) and Carles (Cuadrat). Just slight alterations but their mentalities are the same. Also, Gerard (Zaragoza), his assistant has been great help. It's been more progressive than what we learnt under Roca and he did not win the league and Carles did, that is the difference," said Chhetri, reported Goal.

Playing in Asia was something that evaded BFC for a year now as they couldn’t play in Asian competitions in 2019. However, they would now play in the group stages of the 2020 AFC Cup and Chhetri seemed delighted with the prospect.

"After losing the final last year we did not speak about it but everyone knew that one day we will be presented with this chance. Everybody thought about it, everybody wanted this. You know what Asia, we are back," Chhetri said.

Bengaluru FC had reached the AFC Cup final three years back in 2016 where they had eventually suffered a 1-0 defeat in the hands of Al-Quwa-Al-Jawiya. And the 34-year-old, on Sunday, placed the ISL right after that in terms of achievement.

"Probably number two, right after the AFC Cup 2016 final in Doha against the team that eventually won," he quipped.